crawfish
07-29-2007, 08:34 PM
July 28, 2007 (Source Credit) Olin Buchanan Rivals.com College Football Senior Writer
Glenn Dorsey practices what he preaches. As a way of staying involved in the community, the LSU All-American defensive tackle often makes public speaking appearances and encourages children to stay in school. So having spread that message, he couldn't leave LSU early - not even for the riches that await an NFL first-round draft choice. Glenn Dorsey is a big reason LSU is the favorite to win the SEC. "I couldn't tell them to stay in school and then leave school," Dorsey said on Friday.
http://vmedia.rivals.com/IMAGES/Player/video/0728-LSU-GDORESEY_250.JPG http://vmedia.rivals.com/IMAGES/Coach/PHOTO/0700-LSULESMILES250.JPG
In truth, Dorsey might have been more inclined to leave had he not been hobbled by a sore shin. The injury might have hurt his performance at a combine workout. He did seek the advice of family and coaches before making his decision. "I just had to stop and think about what I was doing," said Dorsey, who looked like a businessman while wearing a black pin-striped suit, gold tie and a diamond-crusted wrist watch. "I needed to get a lot of advice to make a smart decision. I made the best decision for my family and my team, and I'm 100 percent behind it."
The children - and everybody else in Louisiana - probably would have understood had Dorsey left, but they're 100 percent thrilled that he didn't. After all, he's a big reason - perhaps the biggest - that LSU is picked to win the Southeastern Conference championship and challenge for the national championship. Last season he recorded 64 tackles - a huge amount for a defensive tackle - including 8 1/2 for losses. The LSU defense ranked third in the nation in total defense last year and features seven other returning starters, including end Tyson Jackson, linebackers Ali Highsmith and Darry Beckwithand defensive backs Chevis Jackson and Jonathan Zenon.
But make no mistake, Dorsey, who some analysts have called the best player in the nation - regardless of position - is the Tigers' top defender. "He was one of the best players in the country last year," Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville said. "You can imagine what he's going to be like this year. We did everything possible to block him with one, two offensive linemen, a tight end at times and running backs. He's just a great player in a long line of good defensive tackles I've seen come out over the years. "He kind of reminded me a lot of (former Miami All-American) Warren Sapp. He plays low to the ground, is quick off the line of scrimmage and is always going north and south. He's a guy everyone is going to have to deal with this year when you play LSU. He'll be the first guy you notice when you turn on the film."
Les Miles is happy to have Dorsey back to lead the defense.
LSU coach Les Miles is just thankful he won't have to turn on the TV on Sunday to see Dorsey play this season. "I sat down in his living room and I talked about draft potential, different spots where he might fit," Miles said. "He had to weigh that versus another year at LSU, coming back to school, working to get his degree and the enjoyment of being a college guy."
He's clearly enjoying playing for LSU, which is just a few miles from the home in which he grew up in Gonzales, La. Dorsey wants to win for all the LSU fans. "They love LSU," he said. "I know I'm not just playing for myself and my team. I'm also playing for that 1-year-old girl in the stands wearing a cheerleader outfit. She doesn't know what's going on, but he's supporting us. "I'm also playing for that 80-year-old guy that could be doing something else, but he's supporting us." And he's also playing for those kids that he encourages to stay in school, just like he did.
Glenn Dorsey practices what he preaches. As a way of staying involved in the community, the LSU All-American defensive tackle often makes public speaking appearances and encourages children to stay in school. So having spread that message, he couldn't leave LSU early - not even for the riches that await an NFL first-round draft choice. Glenn Dorsey is a big reason LSU is the favorite to win the SEC. "I couldn't tell them to stay in school and then leave school," Dorsey said on Friday.
http://vmedia.rivals.com/IMAGES/Player/video/0728-LSU-GDORESEY_250.JPG http://vmedia.rivals.com/IMAGES/Coach/PHOTO/0700-LSULESMILES250.JPG
In truth, Dorsey might have been more inclined to leave had he not been hobbled by a sore shin. The injury might have hurt his performance at a combine workout. He did seek the advice of family and coaches before making his decision. "I just had to stop and think about what I was doing," said Dorsey, who looked like a businessman while wearing a black pin-striped suit, gold tie and a diamond-crusted wrist watch. "I needed to get a lot of advice to make a smart decision. I made the best decision for my family and my team, and I'm 100 percent behind it."
The children - and everybody else in Louisiana - probably would have understood had Dorsey left, but they're 100 percent thrilled that he didn't. After all, he's a big reason - perhaps the biggest - that LSU is picked to win the Southeastern Conference championship and challenge for the national championship. Last season he recorded 64 tackles - a huge amount for a defensive tackle - including 8 1/2 for losses. The LSU defense ranked third in the nation in total defense last year and features seven other returning starters, including end Tyson Jackson, linebackers Ali Highsmith and Darry Beckwithand defensive backs Chevis Jackson and Jonathan Zenon.
But make no mistake, Dorsey, who some analysts have called the best player in the nation - regardless of position - is the Tigers' top defender. "He was one of the best players in the country last year," Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville said. "You can imagine what he's going to be like this year. We did everything possible to block him with one, two offensive linemen, a tight end at times and running backs. He's just a great player in a long line of good defensive tackles I've seen come out over the years. "He kind of reminded me a lot of (former Miami All-American) Warren Sapp. He plays low to the ground, is quick off the line of scrimmage and is always going north and south. He's a guy everyone is going to have to deal with this year when you play LSU. He'll be the first guy you notice when you turn on the film."
Les Miles is happy to have Dorsey back to lead the defense.
LSU coach Les Miles is just thankful he won't have to turn on the TV on Sunday to see Dorsey play this season. "I sat down in his living room and I talked about draft potential, different spots where he might fit," Miles said. "He had to weigh that versus another year at LSU, coming back to school, working to get his degree and the enjoyment of being a college guy."
He's clearly enjoying playing for LSU, which is just a few miles from the home in which he grew up in Gonzales, La. Dorsey wants to win for all the LSU fans. "They love LSU," he said. "I know I'm not just playing for myself and my team. I'm also playing for that 1-year-old girl in the stands wearing a cheerleader outfit. She doesn't know what's going on, but he's supporting us. "I'm also playing for that 80-year-old guy that could be doing something else, but he's supporting us." And he's also playing for those kids that he encourages to stay in school, just like he did.